Optogenetic tools controlled by ultraviolet-B light

Abstract

Decades of genetic, molecular and biochemical studies in plants have provided foundational knowledge about light sensory proteins and led to their application in synthetic biology. Optogenetic tools take advantage of the light switchable activity of plant photoreceptors to control intracellular signaling pathways. The recent discovery of the UV-B photoreceptor UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana opens up new avenues for light-controllable methodologies. In this review, we discuss current developments in optogenetic control by UV-B light and its signaling components, as well as rational considerations in the design and applications of UV-B-based optogenetic tools.